Support

A cookie is a piece of data stored by your browser or device that helps websites like this one recognize return visitors. We use cookies to give you the best experience on BNA.com. Some cookies are also necessary for the technical operation of our website. If you continue browsing, you agree to this site’s use of cookies.

Fisheries Service Hears Pros, Cons on Atlantic Seismic Surveys

Five oil and gas service companies are awaiting decisions by the National Marine Fisheries
Service on their proposals for Atlantic offshore seismic surveys that could harm whales
and other marine life.

The service, which can issue authorizations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act,
is reviewing a high volume of opposing and supporting public comments that were filed
by the July 21 deadline.

The five companies are TGS NOPEC Geophysical Co. ASA, Spectrum ASA, ION Geophysical
Corp., CGG S.A. and WesternGeco Ltd., a subsidiary of Schlumberger Ltd. A sixth company,
TDI-Brooks International Inc., recently expressed an interest in restarting the application
for an authorization after an earlier application was returned to the company as incomplete.

The fisheries service proposed authorizations with a variety of mitigation measures
to reduce risks to marine mammals. If the authorizations are granted—with or without
additional mitigation steps—the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will be able to
make final decisions on whether to issue one-year permits for the work.

The fisheries service has no deadline for its decisions. BOEM is expected to be able
to act quickly if the service gives the green light.

Opposition From State Officials

If a group of nine attorneys general has its way, there will be no seismic surveys
for oil and gas in the Atlantic. The attorneys general for eight East Coast states
and the District of Columbia, all Democrats, asked the National Marine Fisheries Service
to deny the authorizations.

Environmental activists and many marine biologists fear deep-penetration seismic surveys
using air-gun arrays to fire acoustic waves will harm mammals, fish, and other life.
The nine attorneys general offered similar concerns in a
letter to the fisheries service.

The attorneys general also made it clear that they opposed oil and gas drilling and
production in the Atlantic. “Every step of the oil and gas exploration process threatens
irreplaceable natural resources,” they said.

The attorneys general were from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia.

Support From Industry

Three oil and gas industry associations—International Association of Geophysical Contractors,
the American Petroleum Institute and the National Ocean Industries Association—sent
a
letter to the fisheries service expressing support for the planned geophysical surveying
and argued that it would “have no more than a negligible impact on marine mammal species
or stocks.”

The Obama administration resounded the position that the surveys shouldn’t be expected
to have a notable impact on species or stocks. Applications for permits from that
administration were rejected only after a decision was made to avoid leasing any Atlantic
offshore area for exploration drilling in the 2017-2022 leasing program. That decision
made the surveys unnecessary, the Obama administration said.

The National Marine Fisheries Service has not yet publicly released the comments on
the seismic surveys.

Still unanswered is whether anyone will actually do the work even if they have the
incidental harassment authorizations and the BOEM permits. Many seismic companies
will not conduct a survey without oil and gas company customers lined up to finance
the work, and customers may wait until the federal government schedules Atlantic offshore
leasing, and there’s no assurance that will happen.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alan Kovski in Washington at
akovski@bna.com

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Rachael Daigle at
rdaigle@bna.com

All Bloomberg BNA treatises are available on standing order, which ensures you will always receive the most current edition of the book or supplement of the title you have ordered from Bloomberg BNA’s book division. As soon as a new supplement or edition is published (usually annually) for a title you’ve previously purchased and requested to be placed on standing order, we’ll ship it to you to review for 30 days without any obligation. During this period, you can either (a) honor the invoice and receive a 5% discount (in addition to any other discounts you may qualify for) off the then-current price of the update, plus shipping and handling or (b) return the book(s), in which case, your invoice will be cancelled upon receipt of the book(s). Call us for a prepaid UPS label for your return. It’s as simple and easy as that. Most importantly, standing orders mean you will never have to worry about the timeliness of the information you’re relying on. And, you may discontinue standing orders at any time by contacting us at 1.800.960.1220 or by sending an email to books@bna.com.

Put me on standing order at a 5% discount off list price of all future updates, in addition to any other discounts I may quality for. (Returnable within 30 days.)

Notify me when updates are available (No standing order will be created).

This Bloomberg BNA report is available on standing order, which ensures you will all receive the latest edition. This report is updated annually and we will send you the latest edition once it has been published. By signing up for standing order you will never have to worry about the timeliness of the information you need. And, you may discontinue standing orders at any time by contacting us at 1.800.372.1033, option 5, or by sending us an email to research@bna.com.

Put me on standing order

Notify me when new releases are available (no standing order will be created)